This allows the aquarists to direct animals to key locations in their environment. The team can then interact with the sharks to monitor their health and also provide guests a closer look.

3. They play favorites. Our aquarists have found each shark responds differently to training. Some sharks are very relaxed when held a certain way, and some sharks show a preference for certain aquarists.

4. They can be picky eaters. Sharks tend to be finicky about their food, which affects the way the animals interact during a training session. Sharks have individually discerning tastes. Some gobble up salmon and trout, but take a pass on squid and mackerel.

For example, male zebra sharks have been known to compete with one another for the aquarist’s attention.

If one is interacting with the aquarist, others are likely to swim over and push their way in.

Blacktip and whitetip sharks are especially playful and curious, and like to move around and dig in the sand in their environments. Some even like sand sprinkled on their backs.

Did you know it’s possible to train sharks? The expert aquarists at SeaWorld and Discovery Cove in Orlando have done just that. They have learned that sharks have unique behavioral traits and that training them takes patience. (SeaWorld video image)